Driving Home through Europe

[InsaneApache]

Hi fellow organs. I have been given the opportunity to drive my dads van back to the UK from his home on Corfu. My route will be something along the lines of a ferry to Brindisi, travelling up the lenth of Italy, then crossong into either Swizerland or southeastern France and then onto the UK.

A well travelled and international bunch we have here, I'm sure some of you guys can give me some pointers and tips about places to visit en-route, (small diversions are ok )

Thanks in advance.

[Zalmoxis]

Rome?

[Flavius Clemens]

If you're heading up Italy along the western side, when you reach Salerno take the Almalfi coast route rather than the shorter inland route. I did it north to south one autumn a few years ago. The coastal views are wonderful, though Amalfi itself was one of the more expensive places I stayed in on that trip.
Sorrento is a nice enough place to visit (though I would guess busy in high season) and has great views across the Bay of Naples - every time I left my hotel there I couldn't help but take a photo of the view of Vesuvius. It also gives easy access for a day trip to Capri. Depending on how long you're aiming to take over the holiday it's not necessarily a must see, but is picturesque and has remains of an Emperor's villa (I forget which one) with great views, but only after a long steep walk.
Heading north, there's a lot to see in Pompeii - easy to spend a full day wandering around the place.

I've not done more than change trains in Naples, so can't vouch for it, but have heard different people love or hate it.

Rome is worth a good few days of anyones time. Of the ancient sites I've found the Colosseum and Forum were the most atmospheric, the Circus Maximus and Baths of Caracalla rather less so. The Pantheon looks far better inside than out (not least because its bronze roof was melted down to make an ornate altar cover for St Peter's, which I think is hideous, but I'm a philistine...) I love wandering around the Centro Storico: Piazza Navona, Campo di Fiori.
The Trevi Fountain is an incredible sight completly out of proportion to the small square it's in. (Also the nearby Gelato di San Crispino deserves its reputation for serving some of the best ice cream in the city, though the prices match the taste)
If you're so inclined you can easily spend days in the museums, if you're interested in all the art and historical periods it covers the Vatican Museum alone can easily take a full day.

And few places further north that I've visited - Bologna I found the mediaeval architecture foreboding rather than impressive, but the food was wonderful. Pisa - not just for the leaning tower, the other buildings in the 'Field of Miracles' are also beautiful, but I found the rest of the city far less interesting. Milan - OK, but the only Italian city I've visited that hasn't really hooked me in at least some respect. Lago di Como - beautiful scenery (but not easy driving - the hyderfoils would be best for getting around the main towns and villages.)

Hope this helps - as you might guess I'm an Italy junkie!

[InsaneApache]

Well I'm about to set off to the port to catch the ferry to Bari, then via Italy,Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Nederlands I shall get back to the UK on Thursday from the Hook of Holland...hmmmm....mebbe a chance to get to Amsterdamn as well.. .....I shall be contemplating making a full (if not quite frank ) report when I get home.

Be seeing you.